Based on the student’s ability to successfully challenge the HSA Physical Performance Standards, we developed the Multilevel Certification, a performance-based method of assessing and accommodating the disabled diver’s specialized needs. The basic theory for this type of certification is:
Level A.
The student has successfully challenged all of the HSA physical Performance Standards, demonstrating that he or she can safely scuba dive, solve basic personal emergencies, help another diver in distress, and perform basic rescues.
Level B.
The student has successfully challenged those HSA Physical Performance Standards that demonstrate their ability to safely scuba dive, and to solve basic emergencies. However, they are unable to successfully challenge those Performance Standards that demonstrate their ability to help another diver in distress.
Therefore, the Level B diver is certified to scuba dive with Two Dive Buddies who are certified Level A or above. In the case of an emergency, this system will provide an effective dive buddy for all members of the dive team.
Level C.
The student has successfully challenged those HSA Physical Performance Standards that demonstrate their ability to safely scuba dive. However, they are unable to successfully challenge those performance standards that demonstrate their ability to independently solve basic personal emergencies, or to execute basic scuba skills, such as, descending, swimming underwater, or operating their own BCD (buoyancy control device).
Because some of the basic scuba skills must be performed for them by a dive buddy, they are certified to dive with Two Dive Buddies, one certified Level A or above, the other assisting buddy certified at the minimum as a Rescue Diver. This assisting buddy would preferably be an HSA-certified Instructor, Assistant Instructor, DiveMaster, or Open Water DIve Buddy.
The Benefits of the HSA
Physical performance Standards and Multilevel Certification are:
1. It standardizes the appropriate action to take when a student cannot successfully challenge certain physical performance standards. This enables the Instructor to function within the realm of the familiar, i.e. performance standards, rather than the unfamiliar, i.e. disability types.
2. A standardized course of instruction creates more diving opportunities and safer divers by ensuring that all procedures for safe diving are mestered.
3. There are certain special skills that a disabled diver needs, over and above those of the able-bodied diver.
